Mild and General One-Pot Reduction and Cyclization of Aromatic and Heteroaromatic 2-Nitroamines to Bicyclic 2H-Imidazoles

Emily J. Hanan*, Bryan K. Chan, Anthony A. Estrada, Daniel G. Shore, Joseph P. Lyssikatos

*Discovery Chemistry, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA, Email: hanan.emilygene.com

E. J. Hanan, B. K. Chan, A. A. Estrada, D. G. Shore, J. P. Lyssikatos, Synlett, 2010, 2759-2764.

DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1259007

---

see article for more reactions

Abstract

A one-pot procedure for the conversion of aromatic and heteroaromatic 2-nitroamines into bicyclic 2H-benzimidazoles employs formic acid, iron powder, and NH₄Cl as additive to reduce the nitro group and effect the imidazole cyclization with high-yielding conversions generally within one to two hours. The compatibility with a wide range of functional groups demonstrates the general utility of this procedure.

see article for more examples

---

---

Key Words

cyclization, heterocycles, imidazole, iron, reduction, benzimidazoles

---

ID: J60-Y2010-3110